About 200 hockey fans got to watch Sidney Crosby, John Tavares and some more of the world’s elite players strut their stuff during some off-season training in Halifax midday Thursday.

Crosby and the others all work with elite trainer Andy O’Brien, according to Gaetan Tremblay, Crosby’s summertime conditioning coach. The Penguins’ star wanted to work out near his home this summer and O’Brien and his clients were in Halifax as a result.

“Sidney was staying home and had some stuff to do this summer,” Tremblay said.

Tremblay blames word-of-mouth spread by social media for the crowds that appeared at Thursday’s session. A lot of the rink’s seating was taped off and some people had to be turned away at the door.

The crowd that did get in witnessed some dazzling displays of talent. During a three-on-three session, Crosby and Marchand teamed up to score goals in rapid succession. Later, Spezza wired a wrist shot that had the crowd buzzing. Tavares showed his amazing agility and Crosby slipped a puck through his legs to fool Cleary for a shot on net.

In an interview after the workout, former Halifax Mooseheads star and recent No. 1 draft pick MacKinnon said it’s been very worthwhile training with some of the best hockey players in the world.

“It’s nice to have some guys come to Halifax,” he said. “It’s been a great couple of days so far.”

He’s happy local fans got to see such talented players and said some of the visiting players were going to visit the Cabot Trail or Fox Harb’r Golf Resort now that the sessions are done.

“They’re definitely enjoying Halifax,” he said

Herring Cove’s Connor Lowden, who plays in the Chebucto minor hockey system, brought a Tavares New York Islanders jersey to the rink.

“I want to get it signed,” he said. “He’s a great skater, he has a great shot. He has great hands.”

Cole Harbour’s Griffin Peers, who is 10, said he’d likely be home “probably watching TV” if someone hadn’t called his father about the hockey stars. He said Crosby and MacKinnon impressed him, as well as Duchene.

“His dekeing and stuff is good.”

Ryan Lindsay, of Lower Sackville, took his two sons to the rink and they waited an hour to get two Crosby jerseys signed by the Pittsburgh superstar.